As the world becomes increasingly digitized, more and more business is conducted online. This includes signing contracts and other legal documents.
When the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect four years ago, businesses scrambled to ensure compliance with the new regulations. Among other things, GDPR requires companies to get explicit consent from individuals before collecting or processing their data.
This blog post will look at whether are electronic signatures compliant with GDPR and what businesses need to do to make sure they comply.
Table of Contents
- What Is GDPR?
- Are Electronic Signatures Legal in Europe?
- How Do Electronic Signatures Comply with GDPR?
- What Are the Benefits of Using Electronic Signatures Under GDPR Compliance Guidelines?
- What Should Businesses Do To Ensure They Are Compliant With GDPR?
- Final Thoughts: Are Electronic Signatures Compliant With GDPR?
What Is GDPR?
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new data protection law that came into effect on May 25, 2018.
The GDPR replaces the 1995 EU Data Protection Directive. It strengthens EU data protection rules by giving individuals more control over their personal data and establishing new rights for individuals.
GDPR applies to any company that processes the personal data of EU citizens, regardless of where the company is located. Companies that process the personal data of EU citizens must comply with the GDPR unless they can demonstrate that they meet certain conditions.
The GDPR requires companies to get explicit consent from individuals before collecting, using or sharing their personal data.
Companies must also provide individuals with clear and concise information about their rights under GDPR and ensure that individuals can easily exercise their rights.
The GDPR imposes significant fines for companies that violate its provisions, including up to 4% of a company’s global annual revenue or €20 million (whichever is greater), whichever is greater.
Are Electronic Signatures Legal in Europe?
Are electronic signatures compliant with GDPR? The answer is yes and no. If you are using electronic signatures for the sole purpose of authenticating a user’s identity, then the answer is yes.
However, the answer is no if you use electronic signatures for other purposes, such as collecting personal data or consent to terms and conditions.
This is because GDPR requires that all personal data be collected fairly and transparently. Furthermore, individuals must be allowed to opt out of collecting their personal data.
It’s difficult to make a blanket statement about whether are electronic signatures compliant with GDPR.
However, some general principles can be applied. First, it’s important to ensure that electronic signatures are unique to the individual signing the document.
Second, the process used to create the signature should be auditable to verify that the intended signatory indeed made the signature.
Finally, electronic signatures should be stored to ensure they cannot be altered or tampered with after the fact. By following these guidelines, businesses can ensure that electronic signatures are compliant with GDPR.
How Do Electronic Signatures Comply with GDPR?
Electronic signatures are a powerful and convenient way to authorize contracts, agreements, and other important documents.
However, with the recent passage of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), many people wonder how these digital signatures comply with the strict new requirements for data privacy and protection.
In short, although there are a few specific conditions that companies must meet to use electronic signatures in line with GDPR regulations, most businesses can do so with relative ease.
One key factor for ensuring electronic signature compliance is obtaining users’ explicit consent to share their data. Businesses must communicate what data will be stored, how it will be used, and who it may be shared with before collecting personal information from users.
Additionally, organizations must have a valid reason for storing information beyond the intended scope of an electronic signature transaction.
For example, suppose a company needs name and email address data due to a warranty claim. In that case, they are not allowed to retain this information indefinitely or use it for marketing purposes later on.
Despite some initial concerns around compliance with GDPR regulations, most businesses can accommodate the new rules when using electronic signatures.
By being transparent and responsible when collecting user information while properly restricting access to and use of data, companies can stay on the right side of GDPR while still enjoying the many benefits of electronic signatures.
What Are the Benefits of Using Electronic Signatures Under GDPR Compliance Guidelines?
When it comes to GDPR compliance, electronic signatures can provide a number of benefits.
First and foremost, they can help to ensure that personal data is properly protected. Companies can confirm that the person signing the document is who they say they are by using an electronic signature.
This helps to prevent fraud and ensures that only authorized individuals have access to sensitive information.
In addition, electronic signatures can help to speed up the process of obtaining consent from individuals. Rather than printing out and signing a paper document, individuals can simply sign electronically.
This can save a lot of time and hassle, particularly for large organizations with many employees or customers.
Finally, electronic signatures can help to create a paperless environment. This saves trees and other resources and also help reduce storage costs and make it easier to access documents from anywhere in the world.
What Should Businesses Do To Ensure They Are Compliant With GDPR?
There are a few key things businesses need to do to ensure they are compliant with GDPR when using electronic signatures.
First, businesses need to ensure they have obtained the individual’s explicit consent for collecting data.
The individual must be made aware of what data is being collected and why, and must give explicit permission for it to be collected.
Second, businesses need to ensure that all data collected is stored securely and can only be accessed by authorized personnel. It means ensuring that physical and electronic security measures are in place to prevent unauthorized access to data.
Finally, businesses need to put in place procedures for deleting data once it is no longer needed to protect the individual’s privacy and comply with GDPR.
Suppose you are a business owner looking to implement electronic signatures to simplify your processes. In that case, it is important to work with an experienced provider who can ensure that all of these requirements are met.
Look for a service that has robust security measures, easy-to-use software, and transparent terms and conditions so that you can be sure you are compliant with GDPR when using electronic signatures.
Final Thoughts: Are Electronic Signatures Compliant With GDPR?
The digital age has brought many changes to how we live and do business. One of the most significant changes in the way we sign documents.
We hope that this article has shed light on the question are electronic signatures compliant with GDPR and you found the answers to other important questions related to the topic.
With electronic signatures, businesses can streamline their processes and become more compliant with GDPR.
Fill is a great app for signing contracts and other important documents electronically. It’s easy to use, secure and keeps a record of all your signed documents in one place. It has 256-bit end-to-end encryption to protect the transmission of data and also is GDPR compliant.
If you want to learn more about how electronic signatures can help your business be GDPR compliant, contact us today.
We would be happy to answer any questions you have and show you how easy it is to get started with Fill.
